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PAPER
CONNECTIVISM
Umer Farooq, Sanad Shah, Sayed Nazari
IST-520
Overview
Principles Related to Theory
Integration of Principles
Social Conditions
Positive Contribution
Criticism & Source
Major Contributors and Their Contributions
Collective Team Position on Situations of Application
Principle Elements Related to the Theory
Integration of Principles
Interactive Networks
Connectivity
Provided Interactivity
Criticisms
Lack of control on the content
g. According to the textbook, Stephen Downes and some other scholars criticized
some of the elements of Connectivism.
Major Contributors/their contributions
This theory has been around and discussed for more than two
decades, but the major contributions were added in 2008 by
George Siemens and Stephen Downes, who constructed the first
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
a. “Connectivism is the integration of principles explored by chaos, network, and complexity and
self-organization theories” (Harasim, 2017, p.87). According to (Stephenson, n.d.), it is focused on
forming and creating interactive networks to ensure and acknowledge learning that occurs in having
conversation, dialogue, and group work, or debate with others (as cited in Harasim, 2017). Thus, the
notion of Connectivism is to promote connectivity in order to link to knowledge sources, rather than
explaining its formation in our own brains, which is the concept of connectionism (Harasim, 2017).
b. Connectivism is related to the digital age. It focuses on sharing and distributing our knowledge
and cognition with others via multiple means using technology. It encourages learners to connect to
others to expand their knowledge and enhance their learning ability. The theory claims that technology
plays a key role in sharing knowledge with others, with the notion to replace instructors with
technology (Harasim, 2017).
(2) The Theory of Connectivism also suggests to use and share knowledge with the
right individuals and in the right context for better and concrete learning. It suggests the
importance of knowing and having the knowledge about tomorrow’s learning, which reflects
on learners’ access to new information, rather than what they possess. Connectivism was
developed with the notion to elevate and assist learners to succeed in their academic endeavors
in today’s digital era (Harasim, 2017).
Connectivism basically questions the notion that learning is an individual phenomenon, that many of
the exiting learning theories believe to be one of their foundational principles- that learning takes place
inside an individual’s head. Connectivists believe that learning is too complex a phenomenon for an
individual to deal with alone, rather it takes place when it is distributed through a social and
technologically enhanced network. Siemens argues that human beings need to rely on a network of
people and increasingly technology to store, access, and retrieve knowledge and encourages its use
(Siemens, 2006). Since connectivists believe that today’s right answer can no longer be a right answer
for tomorrow with the alterations in the information; therefore, its validity and accuracy changes over
time through new contributions. Hence, it is very important for learners to able to evolve and improve
on their understanding of the subject as the information changes with these alterations.
3. Positive Contributions
c. Promoted inclusion of varied content and opportunities for networking learners to share
knowledge and initiate dialogues and discussions
d. Provided Interactivity
g. According to the textbook, Stephen Downes and some other scholars criticized some of the
elements of Connectivism.
a. This theory has been around and discussed for more than two decades, but the major
contributions were added in 2008 by George Siemens and Stephen Downes, who constructed the first
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). The purpose behind their significant contributions was to
create an interactive learning system in which learners share information (Harasim, 2017).
c. Looking at Connectivism in the 21st century and from the millennials’ perspectives, it is still
new and its contributions will have impact in the future. It is worth mentioning that its significant
advancements and implementation have already shaped schooling system, training, and learning
(Harasim, 2017).
a. Sharing personal knowledge, information and opinions for our own benefits, the benefits of
others and the community as a whole, is what we need in our current education system. Instead of
seeing knowledge and learning from a personal point of view, we can see knowledge from an
integrated standpoint to expand our understanding to its finest level by contributing our ideas,
opinions, and views in an inclusive learning pool.
b. The idea of connectedness plays a key role in the 21st century education system where
learners deal with individuals from different walks of life with various academic and social
backgrounds. Connectedness provides a platform for individuals to create and share their personal
learning material, information and identity with others to expand the spectrum of our learning capacity.
We as individuals can create things, but they serve only our personal interests.
a. This rubric helps you address the question of whether the theory provides for the 5Ps-
Presentation, Practice, Production, Posting, Participation/Collaboration. An item may be non-
applicable to the situation. Or, an item that is not provided for may involve a mixed theory
approach.
b. Example: Constructivism does not seem to provide for practice. Or, if the opposite is your
position, support that with a comment as to how a Constructivist approach supports practice. In
applying the analysis to a Constructivist learning approach, the task readiness (Zone of Proximal
Development) of each member of the group would have to be assessed and risk or remediation
would have to be provided for.
c. Attach the rubric to the Talking Paper. Address each entry on the rubric.
Draft Rubric
Accounte
d For?
Y = Yes
Element of Motivation N= No Comments
NA = Not
Applicable
? = Cannot
Determine
Presentation
The theory considers whether material N Unlike other learning approaches,
is relevant to needs and goals of the there is no teacher or mentor to analyze
learner learner’s needs upfront. This theory
focuses more on the capacity of the
learner to know more rather than
paying attention to what is currently
known or his or her background
knowledge.
The theory concerns itself with the Y Connectivism also addresses the
presentation approach being challenges that how the knowledge that
intrinsically resides in a database can be connected
pleasant/interesting/stimulating/ with the right people in the right
thought provoking context in order to be classified as
learning. So it has to involve how to
present knowledge to the right people
The theory informs with respect to Y The manipulators study the target
areas such as wording, visuals, audio, audience and based on their study they
language being manageable and create content that is well received by
useable to the receiving group or the target group. Propaganda can be a
individual good example.
Practice
The theory requires that practice is Yes Though there is no need assessment
relevant to needs and goals of the done by teacher in advance, it is leaners
learner who decide what they need to learn.
Learners create a “structure” for her/his
learning.
The theory covers self-assessment or Cannot It doesn’t say anything about self-
assessment by other means that Determine assessment. However, MOOCs are a
evidences that the Learner can see that great example of how students are
skill/competency acquisition is taking assessed through auto-graded quiz. The
place students either provide correct answer
or they are just wrong.
The theory requires practice activities N The only thing it deems vital for
that are within or slightly above the learning, is to nurture and maintain
learner’s competency level connections to facilitate continual
learning.
Participation/Collaboration
Theory supports synchronous or Yes It encourages students to engage in
asynchronous review of posted collaborative activities to openly
products discuss their learning needs through
asynchronous and synchronous
communications.
Theory supports some form of Yes Artificial Intelligence (AI) knows that
accountability with respect to who is who is contributing and who is not.
contributing and how they are
contributing to knowledge sharing
Theory accounts for variation in task Y The Theory has promoted inclusion of
readiness and ability to contribute to varied content and opportunities for
group effort to meet goals networking learners to share
knowledge and initiate dialogues and
discussions to meet goals. The idea of
connectedness plays a key role in the
21st century education system where
learners deal with individuals from
different walks of life with various
academic and social backgrounds.
In terms of theory, does the theory Yes In terms of theory, the theory provides
provide for collaboration? a platform for collaboration through
social interaction mediated by
technology. It is a form of networked
learning that promotes learning among
all involved parties on a social
interaction platform, integrates
technology, and promotes autonomous
learning.
References
Harasim, Linda. Learning Theory and Online Technologies, 2nd Edition. Routledge, 2017. [Chegg].